Yes, it's always the way, a disused mill that was visited by the Queen in 1954 when it was thriving was nearly destroyed last Monday, and I think it was Grade 2 listed. It should be okay, but it needs a serious clean up. Edit:- I'm from Dewsbury, BTW.
Near where I live is a grade 2 listed railway engine maintenance shed. It was bought by a developer who wanted to turn it into luxury flats. A local resident's organisation strongly opposed this and blocked the project just after the scaffolding went up. It mysteriously caught fire, destroying the roof.
Well, may I ask what you expected to see out of a Torquay hotel bedroom window? Sydney Opera House perhaps? The Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically across the plain?
It's amazing how old buildings, having stood the test of time for hundreds of years, can randomly and spontaneously combust just a few short months after being purchased by a development company! A totally unexpected example of that occurring being The Crooked House in Himley, West Midlands - you should visit it John, it'd make quite the feature.
The teeniest, tiniest shot of your smirk knowing you had timed that to perfection for the coach leaving the station a 1:05 is exactly exactly what lifts your videos form great to awesome. I had to go back and check it was there as I thought I was imagining it! Properly cheered me up after a crap day, whickedsweetawesome.
Did you know, the Royal Albert Bridge is the only suspension bridge on mainline British railways. It doesn’t look like a standard suspension bridge (like the road bridge beside it) but it is. The piers are held apart by the tube on top and the deck is suspended from the chains. The chains were originally to be used at the Clifton suspension bridge, but when that was delayed, Brunel decided to use them at Saltash instead. When Hungerford bridge in London (also a Brunel bridge) was demolished, the chains from there were used at Clifton. An excellent bit of recycling!!
@@sddsddean As Jeremy Clarkson said, "nobody knows why Brunel did it like this, I like to think it's because he could." ua-cam.com/video/QwHnVH9jWmU/v-deo.htmlsi=YaDcJv89DlbWqKVq&t=2822
@@johnclements6614 It's a suspension bridge, the tubes over the top are pushing the towers apart, whereas a conventional suspension bridge, the towers are pulling against each other.
I've never seen a bad video on this channel but this one just feels a cut above the rest, the drone footage with the narration just goes together really well on this one.
Very interesting video, bringing back memories. I used to service computers at Lee Moor Pit in the late '80's. Everything was either covered in fine white dust or mud. A car clean was needed as soon as I left site. All electrical equipment on site including computers came under mines and quarry regulations, so all powered by 110V. If I needed to use a soldering iron, an "illegal" 110 to 240V transformer appeared to allow me to get the job done. Also had my wedding reception at a hotel on Babbacombe downs.
Honestly I was surprised you didn't mention Plymouth's lighthouse. That being said the information was spot on with where you visited. Thank you for doing these videos it's great to see Devon being represented ❤️ look forward to the next upload!
Totnes was a industrial town up until recent years. Big timber yard and big timber ships used to come up the river. You can see the leat and and water works of the old days along the river.
I had family in Torquay. My Uncle Jack knew the 1960's crooner Frankie Vaughan, and, from what my gran told me, would take him out fishing in his boat. The atmospheric railway failed because an integral part of it was the leather flaps that kept the pressure constant in the tubes, whilst allowing the trains to work by being connected to the piston in the tube, were weatherproofed by being coated in animal fat. Rats saw this in the same manner that hammered drinkers view the elephant's leg in a kebab shop. Result? Lack of pressure miles from nowhere (and munted punters having a gip in the gutter). I love the Royal Albert bridge - and here's an odd thing - I was returning from a holiday in Cornwall on the train. Just as it gets to the Tamar crossing, my phone rings. It's my brother, who is in the pub, and doing a pub quiz. He says: "What's the name of that bridge between Devon and Cornwall?" I cut him off, took a quick photo, and rang him back, saying: "What? The one I'm just about to go over?" And sent him the photo, so he could check the time stamp.
Very interesting, Jon! I live within a mile of where you started the film at Babbacombe and regularly walk the dog past Babbacombe downs and down to the beach at Oddicome. That railway comes in really handy when you can't be arsed to walk up the 1:4 hill from the beach!!
A mysterious fire awaits the old mill. Funny how often that happens. It's got to the stage I'm leary of being near old mills in case they spontaneously combust.
Your wonderful 10 minute vignettes of brittain remind me of a joy division lyric. "Let's take a ride out, see what we can find. Value less collection of, hopes and past desires."
Awesome video. Interestingly the road, going up from Babbicombe Beech next to the Cliff Railway was host to a hillclimb for a number of years, worth doing a Wednesday video on to be fair
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has a couple similar furniculars, too. I never road them but I have been to Pittsburgh and it's a very mountainous city, right in the heart of the Allegheny Mountains.
There's a grade 2 listed windmill near us that's in a state of disrepair and been put up for sale by the local borough council..many people here wouldn't be in the least surprised if some fire based accident was to occur
Happened in Newton Abbot, Aldi was struggling to get permission due to a grade 2 listed building. It magically burnt down and permission was granted soon after.
@@TheVanderfulLife yeah isn't it strange how buildings that have survived hundreds of years suddenly burn down..I can't imagine why that might be(!).. Then there's that crooked pub that was illegally bulldozed..these developers don't care tuppence
Loving this series, Jon - your craft skills just get sharper and sharper. I like to think I know a lot about this country even second-hand, but you always surprise me with something like Lee Moor.
The hospital where I was born [near The White Hart] has been converted into flats for medical staff. Quite a nice twist. Not everything has to burn down.
Spent 3 months based in Plymouth Dec 19 to end fed 20 rented air bnb on britney street explored most of Devon and Cornwall with a 4 day trip up to London loved it
Another terrific film from our neck of the woods. Love it Jon. I can't help but think that each region you visit people from that area must say to themselves; "if only it was longer and he went to see as well etc" I know I do. However, we all realise that take a lot more effort.
Apart from the china clay excavation there is also a massive tungsten mine in the area very close to Lee Moor which has blighted the area even more. In my younger days I used to deliver newspapers by van to the houses around there, some of which have since been demolished due to the mine.
7:51 The Tamar Bridge (the road bridge beside the Royal Albert Bridge) goes from Cornwall (Saltash) to Devon (Plymouth) and has a toll on one end, effectively meaning you pay to get out of Cornwall and into Devon...
The cliff fall behind ypu at the start of the video s at the end of Redcliffe Road. There was once a house there which is still on old street views. I seem to remember a news story a few years ago where a guy bought the house for peanuts, knowing the cliff was collapsing, and lived in it as his dream home for a few years before it finally did!
Ive been to totnes twice and didnt even know about the castle or pump station! The steam railway is much more exciting! Babbacombe has caves and the most amazing model village youll ever see!
Pretty sure I loaded a container with printed paper out of the mill at Ivybridge years ago. It was the only time I was involved in exporting anything (other than scrap metal/plastic) during my time moving containers about. Sad to see it abandoned.
7:40 - I regret to say it's "ordnance" not "ordinance" when referring to military stuff. And "lenticular" means " shaped like a lens, as in Sherlock Holmes' magnifying glass. I have driven practially every inch of that journey over the past 30 years, and I don't even live down there: my in-laws retired to Paignton many years ago and we spent many a happy holiday in the area. Thank you for covering it.
Yes, alas. We anglophones appear to be having increasing difficulty articulating consonant clusters. It's not especially new, though: three or four decades ago I was in Canada, where the guide described the stuff we used to put in cameras as "fillum".
Babacombe model village is worth a visit if anyone is planning a trip there to go up and down the clifftop railway. Also there's a house that fell into the sea shown on the top of the aerial view, it was a bit of a tourist attraction for a while.
100% correct about the mill burning down.
Yes, it's always the way, a disused mill that was visited by the Queen in 1954 when it was thriving was nearly destroyed last Monday, and I think it was Grade 2 listed. It should be okay, but it needs a serious clean up.
Edit:- I'm from Dewsbury, BTW.
Grade 2 listing and vampiric property developers, generally mean that structures often get tremendously flammable, for some unaccountable reason.
Accidentally on Purpose of course 😂😅😮
Near where I live is a grade 2 listed railway engine maintenance shed. It was bought by a developer who wanted to turn it into luxury flats. A local resident's organisation strongly opposed this and blocked the project just after the scaffolding went up. It mysteriously caught fire, destroying the roof.
I laughed. Then I felt bad. Did they prosecute that prick who burnt that warped pub down yet ?
When I look out of my hotel window, I expect to see a view of Torquay. 🤣🤣
Well, may I ask what you expected to see out of a Torquay hotel bedroom window? Sydney Opera House perhaps? The Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically across the plain?
I expect to see the sea.
It's over there, between the land and the sky.
🤣🤣🤣
@@andymerrett Well it's not good enough!
🤣🤣🤣
"Most likely burn down in a mysterious fire". Love it!
Class. When it does, Jon will be back there several days later to report on the sad news
It's amazing how old buildings, having stood the test of time for hundreds of years, can randomly and spontaneously combust just a few short months after being purchased by a development company! A totally unexpected example of that occurring being The Crooked House in Himley, West Midlands - you should visit it John, it'd make quite the feature.
The teeniest, tiniest shot of your smirk knowing you had timed that to perfection for the coach leaving the station a 1:05 is exactly exactly what lifts your videos form great to awesome. I had to go back and check it was there as I thought I was imagining it!
Properly cheered me up after a crap day, whickedsweetawesome.
And having the to wait for a pair of GWR class 802s to depart Totnes just to get an eight second shot! Nice capture Jon, you secret rail fan.
@@kevinmothers904 I don't think it's a secret...
Take that, James Burke.
Fricking sweet awesome!
Did you know, the Royal Albert Bridge is the only suspension bridge on mainline British railways. It doesn’t look like a standard suspension bridge (like the road bridge beside it) but it is. The piers are held apart by the tube on top and the deck is suspended from the chains. The chains were originally to be used at the Clifton suspension bridge, but when that was delayed, Brunel decided to use them at Saltash instead. When Hungerford bridge in London (also a Brunel bridge) was demolished, the chains from there were used at Clifton. An excellent bit of recycling!!
@ no it isn’t John. I’m a civil engineer and Brunel buff, so I know what I’m talking about.
@@sddsddean As Jeremy Clarkson said, "nobody knows why Brunel did it like this, I like to think it's because he could."
ua-cam.com/video/QwHnVH9jWmU/v-deo.htmlsi=YaDcJv89DlbWqKVq&t=2822
@@johnclements6614 It's a suspension bridge, the tubes over the top are pushing the towers apart, whereas a conventional suspension bridge, the towers are pulling against each other.
@@johnclements6614 The track bed is suspended by chains, therefore it's a what sort of bridge?
Just use your eyes. I joined the BR(W) in 1981.
@@johnclements6614 You mean it only lasts for 50 days?
I've never seen a bad video on this channel but this one just feels a cut above the rest, the drone footage with the narration just goes together really well on this one.
From the joy of the funicular departing perfectly, to the intercities obstructing the shot. Devon has it all.
Very interesting video, bringing back memories. I used to service computers at Lee Moor Pit in the late '80's. Everything was either covered in fine white dust or mud. A car clean was needed as soon as I left site. All electrical equipment on site including computers came under mines and quarry regulations, so all powered by 110V. If I needed to use a soldering iron, an "illegal" 110 to 240V transformer appeared to allow me to get the job done. Also had my wedding reception at a hotel on Babbacombe downs.
That bridge is fantastic when you consider how long ago it was built. And judging by your pictures, the main secrions were lifted into place as well
Honestly I was surprised you didn't mention Plymouth's lighthouse. That being said the information was spot on with where you visited. Thank you for doing these videos it's great to see Devon being represented ❤️ look forward to the next upload!
Jon, another stellar video. I remember the traffic being backed up like that and waiting an hour for it to clear. Very late lunch that day.
My personal experience advice of travelling on the A38 - is watch out for the speed camera vans 😮
Or stick to the speed limit
Alright, boring @@robertpearce8394
You will never catch Jon speeding.
Totnes was a industrial town up until recent years. Big timber yard and big timber ships used to come up the river. You can see the leat and and water works of the old days along the river.
I had family in Torquay. My Uncle Jack knew the 1960's crooner Frankie Vaughan, and, from what my gran told me, would take him out fishing in his boat.
The atmospheric railway failed because an integral part of it was the leather flaps that kept the pressure constant in the tubes, whilst allowing the trains to work by being connected to the piston in the tube, were weatherproofed by being coated in animal fat. Rats saw this in the same manner that hammered drinkers view the elephant's leg in a kebab shop.
Result? Lack of pressure miles from nowhere (and munted punters having a gip in the gutter).
I love the Royal Albert bridge - and here's an odd thing - I was returning from a holiday in Cornwall on the train. Just as it gets to the Tamar crossing, my phone rings. It's my brother, who is in the pub, and doing a pub quiz. He says:
"What's the name of that bridge between Devon and Cornwall?"
I cut him off, took a quick photo, and rang him back, saying:
"What? The one I'm just about to go over?"
And sent him the photo, so he could check the time stamp.
Very interesting, Jon! I live within a mile of where you started the film at Babbacombe and regularly walk the dog past Babbacombe downs and down to the beach at Oddicome. That railway comes in really handy when you can't be arsed to walk up the 1:4 hill from the beach!!
Took my girlfriend on my motorbike down and back up that road in 82....flippin most difficult mini-ride ever!
@@ekspatriat There's a motorsport connection-Oddicombe was used as a hillclimb venue from 1961 to 2003.Time from bottom to top was 38 seconds in 1989
Lenticular - Lense shaped, thinner at the sides than at the middle. Yeah i can see it from the drone shot of the bridge. Very lense shaped :)
Im surprised Dartmouth wasn't featured in his guide book. Lovely down there
As nice as it is nothing there
@@chucky2316 I mean you have the castle and the church?
My Sunday is complete.
A mysterious fire awaits the old mill.
Funny how often that happens.
It's got to the stage I'm leary of being near old mills in case they spontaneously combust.
When the insurance rubs up against the mortgage it causes friction. 😂
Brunel's bridge is gorgeous 🥰
Bloody marvellous John, amazing as always
8:12 lenticular means lens-shaped - thinner at the ends and wider in the middle.
Great video John,yep the old mill will certainly burn down 👍👌😊
Thanks it was a real blast from stayed in Torquay in February 2008.
Better the Devon you know 👍
Devon knows I'm miserable now.
Devon is a place where nothing ever happens
@@ChrisBrown-px1oy They say in Devon, love comes first
@@DW-indeed Who made Devon a place on earth?
Show me Devon (Ok, said Jon)
Lenticular literally means lens shaped, as lenticular clouds etc, and of course lenses.
Oh wow, the Royal Albert Bridge looks fantastic. it's got a very cool style, and looks like something you would see being built today.
Your wonderful 10 minute vignettes of brittain remind me of a joy division lyric. "Let's take a ride out, see what we can find. Value less collection of, hopes and past desires."
_This_ is the best video I've ever seen about anything
Awesome video. Interestingly the road, going up from Babbicombe Beech next to the Cliff Railway was host to a hillclimb for a number of years, worth doing a Wednesday video on to be fair
“Mysterious fire” yet, we all know it …. Issy Brunel “hold my beer, ill sketch a bridge” top work as usual John, thank you
Nice to see the correct level of sarcasm has been included. Top work,
7:47 It's amazing that that bridge still looks modern.
Wonderful, as always
The episode i knew i wanted to see. One of my favourite areas of the South, brought to me in detail by Jon. Thanks mate 👍
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has a couple similar furniculars, too. I never road them but I have been to Pittsburgh and it's a very mountainous city, right in the heart of the Allegheny Mountains.
Jon, we need a midweek video of you testing Devon and Cornwall cream teas ... just so we don't have to!
5:28 Yeah… 🤣
It is a total mystery how listed buildings in the way of developers suddenly burn down for no reason whatsoever, such a strange coincidence that...
There's a grade 2 listed windmill near us that's in a state of disrepair and been put up for sale by the local borough council..many people here wouldn't be in the least surprised if some fire based accident was to occur
Happened in Newton Abbot, Aldi was struggling to get permission due to a grade 2 listed building. It magically burnt down and permission was granted soon after.
@@TheVanderfulLife yeah isn't it strange how buildings that have survived hundreds of years suddenly burn down..I can't imagine why that might be(!)..
Then there's that crooked pub that was illegally bulldozed..these developers don't care tuppence
Came to the comments for the Fawlty Towers references... Was not disappointed!!! Thanks Chaps!!
At least he didn’t mention the 2nd small disagreement….
@@davidmilne5122 He mentioned it once, but I think he got away with it.
Loving this series, Jon - your craft skills just get sharper and sharper. I like to think I know a lot about this country even second-hand, but you always surprise me with something like Lee Moor.
"Lenticular": lens-shaped. ♥
My home town Torquay! Yay! ... Its a s***hole... But yeah, gotta live somewhere 🤣 I can sense a "Secrets of the A38" coming soon 😁
What happens on the A38, stays on the A38. :-)
I love my hometown as well, but it's like loving a dead or dying relative, you know you should let go and move on but can't quite leave.
I spent a day and half in Torquay and liked it!
@@ldnwholesale8552 It's an OK place to visit on a nice day, not the greatest to live in.
I'm good thanks. I'm probably one of the few who picked up on your homage to the Marc Almond multi-semenal album "Wave goodbye, Say hello"
Cheers Fella!
Great to see Torquay in this!
Such a creative genius, no joke!
Fantastic video, I had the misfortune of living next to Plymouth for a year - you found the good stuff!
Last time I was in Babbacombe there was a very good (award-winning, even) fish and chip shop there.
Should have popped down to Torcross where you could have seen a DD tank as well as the lovely Slapton Sands.
Sarcasm makes my Sundays!! Those "disagreements" are remembered today, as they should be!🤔👍
Surprised to see Ivybridge. The paper mill is such a staple of the town. I love seeing it from my house everyday.
Wow precognition about T' Mill!
The hospital where I was born [near The White Hart] has been converted into flats for medical staff. Quite a nice twist. Not everything has to burn down.
That's a cool looking bridge!
Proud to be a Totnesian 🙏
Wonderful 🎉🎉
Finally made it to my neck of the woods! ❤
it looks like such a nice place, x great video john i want ago on the tram
8:15 Lenticular: shaped as the seed of Lens culinaris.
Another lovely video. Well done sir.
Some beautiful buildings.
Almost in Cornwall.
Have you thought about a cute camper van for some of these journeys?
Spent 3 months based in Plymouth Dec 19 to end fed 20 rented air bnb on britney street explored most of Devon and Cornwall with a 4 day trip up to London loved it
Another terrific film from our neck of the woods. Love it Jon. I can't help but think that each region you visit people from that area must say to themselves; "if only it was longer and he went to see as well etc" I know I do. However, we all realise that take a lot more effort.
A very lenticular episode
Best day of the week is when Jon releases a new video.
Milling around again
Great old buildings.
Apart from the china clay excavation there is also a massive tungsten mine in the area very close to Lee Moor which has blighted the area even more. In my younger days I used to deliver newspapers by van to the houses around there, some of which have since been demolished due to the mine.
My town where I live Torquay it wicked sweet awesome x
Great to see my local area being featured!
Leahmoor looks lovely. Peaceful.
Putting the fun in funicular. You legend
Good one John 👍
7:51 The Tamar Bridge (the road bridge beside the Royal Albert Bridge) goes from Cornwall (Saltash) to Devon (Plymouth) and has a toll on one end, effectively meaning you pay to get out of Cornwall and into Devon...
The cliff fall behind ypu at the start of the video s at the end of Redcliffe Road. There was once a house there which is still on old street views. I seem to remember a news story a few years ago where a guy bought the house for peanuts, knowing the cliff was collapsing, and lived in it as his dream home for a few years before it finally did!
Did you see Sydney opera house the hanging gardens of Babylon heard’s of wildabeast from your hotel window
Yes but I had been down the pub the night before!
Love John's videos - short and sweet. Entertaining, informative and educational: just like the BBC used to be 😂😂😂
Ive been to totnes twice and didnt even know about the castle or pump station! The steam railway is much more exciting! Babbacombe has caves and the most amazing model village youll ever see!
My Sunday isn’t complete until I’ve see this 😊
Ive had a great week. It's sunny and 70°f 😊
5:05 The paper mills were blown away in the gales of 1907. They should have been made of stone.
It looks like some of that A385 traffic has been queued up for almost 100 years.
Pretty sure I loaded a container with printed paper out of the mill at Ivybridge years ago.
It was the only time I was involved in exporting anything (other than scrap metal/plastic) during my time moving containers about. Sad to see it abandoned.
Great episode
Another fantastic video John ⚓️🧲👍
Totnes signal box looking rather big & splendid.
lovely stuff
cheers mate
We've had a couple of holidays in Torquay over the last 18 months, a lovely town
King of the transport content, It's Great British Road Journeys
@ 5.30, MEOW! but frequently true.
Hi john I liked the video today, been to Torquay , Paignton & Brixham many times love the places
Did you press the button specifically for that?
I worked at the paper mill in ivybridge and used to go to discos at Lee moor great times they were my yacht is moored near Albert bridge
Whoa, this vid was wild! Do more like this!
I'm bitterly disappointed that Jon didn't give us his art appreciation video here when he had such a great opportunity to do so!
Another great episode mate keep em flowing
7:40 - I regret to say it's "ordnance" not "ordinance" when referring to military stuff.
And "lenticular" means " shaped like a lens, as in Sherlock Holmes' magnifying glass.
I have driven practially every inch of that journey over the past 30 years, and I don't even live down there: my in-laws retired to Paignton many years ago and we spent many a happy holiday in the area. Thank you for covering it.
Yes, alas. We anglophones appear to be having increasing difficulty articulating consonant clusters. It's not especially new, though: three or four decades ago I was in Canada, where the guide described the stuff we used to put in cameras as "fillum".
@@davidgould9431 "Fillum" is a classic Geordie pronunciation.
Babacombe model village is worth a visit if anyone is planning a trip there to go up and down the clifftop railway. Also there's a house that fell into the sea shown on the top of the aerial view, it was a bit of a tourist attraction for a while.
Cool, you're basically covering my daily commute!